For New Farmers
Starting a farm operation requires thorough analysis of options that may be complex. Setting goals, planning and brainstorming with others can help you make the best decisions for your particular situation. However, there are no easy answers. If you're a beginning farmer looking for a chance to start your own operation, this Connecticut Farm Link website can help you examine your alternatives.
We suggest you first call the CT Department of Agriculture’s Marketing Department (860) 713-2503 for an informational packet on starting a farm business in Connecticut. We have experience in guiding you through the basics of farming in Connecticut.
Next, we strongly recommend the town hall where the land you are going to farm is located. Speak to the Zoning Board and the Assessor's Office. You must remember that town ordinances and zoning for that town must be followed.
For current State of Connecticut statutes that relate to agriculture, please visit our Laws and Regulations page. This page has the definition of agriculture, tax forms, information on Public Act 490, Connecticut's law (Connecticut General Statutes Sections 12-107a through 107-f) that allows your farm, forest, or open space land to be assessed at its use value rather than its fair market or highest and best use value.
Click here to get information on how to obtain a Sales & Use Tax ID number and a Farmer Tax Exemption Permit from the Connecticut Department of Revenue Services.
To get permits that are under the jurisdiction of the CT Department of Agriculture, that relate to operating a farm in Connecticut, visit the State of Connecticut's CLIC site and its Agriculture License page.
Finally, for more general information on how to begin or dissolve a business in Connecticut, please consider visiting the State of Connecticut's CLIC Frequently Asked Questions page.
Other Helpful State And National Organizations
CT Dept of Economic & Community Development Programs and Services provides services to all Connecticut businesses. http://www.ct.gov/ecd/cwp/view.asp?a=1095&q=249640
Growing New Farmers: a Northeastern US collaborative to help new farmers. Information at this website used this site as a clearinghouse for the needs of new farmers and to address them.
http://www.growingnewfarmers.org
New England Small Farm Institute has a lot of other information about farm transfer, farm succession, small farms, farm planning and exploring the small farm dream.
Iowa’s Agricultural Marketing Resource Center has a series of web pages with documents on how to start an ag business and the planning process. http://www.agmrc.org/agmrc/business/startingbusiness/
And also has another set of pages on how to operate the business:
http://www.agmrc.org/agmrc/business/operatingbus
The Connecticut Women's Agricultural Network www.ctwagn.com (WAgN) is committed to helping women succeed at starting, sustaining, and supporting agricultural related endeavors through educational programming and networking opportunities. Check them out!
Apprenticeship and Training Opportunities
Ambler Farm in Wilton, Connecticut has a summer program for middle school children to have the hands-on, on-farm experience.
http://www.amblerfarm.org
New England Willing Workers on Organic Farms (an apprenticeship placement service):
http://www.smallfarm.org/newoof/newoof.html
New England Willing Workers on Organic Farms (an apprenticeship placement service):
http://www.smallfarm.org/newoof/newoof.html
Educational and Training Opportunities in Sustainable Agriculture (nationwide listing from the National Agriculture Library): www.nal.usda.gov/afsic/AFSIC_pubs/edtr.htm
CRAFT: Collaborative Regional Alliance for Farmer Training in Western CT. Apprenticeship program on several cooperating organic farms. http://www.bloomingfieldsfarm.com/cft_home.html
Models of Incubator Farms or New Farmer Training Programs:
Intervale Farms Program (Vermont): a small farm incubator program that leases land, greenhouses, and equipment to new farmers who set up small organic farm enterprises on Intervale land: www.intervale.org/FarmsProgram.htm
Nuestras Raices (Holyoke, MA): Started as an urban gardening program with the Puerto Rican community. Now includes an incubator farm, Tierra de Oportunidades, as well as a community kitchen, bakery, restaurant, youth program, etc.
www.nuestras-raices.org/
Southside Community Land Trust (Providence, RI): Also started with community gardens, expanded to include environmental programs, city farm.
http://users.ids.net/~sclt/
New Entry Sustainable Farming Project (Tufts University with farms in Dracut and other towns): Trains immigrant and refugee farmers in agriculture with an 18 week program. At the end of 18 weeks, the farmers should have in hand a production plan, business plan, and marketing plan, and be ready to farm on a small scale at the incubator farm. At the end of 3 years, the project helps the new farmer get established on other land (generally rented from local farmers). http://nutrition.tufts.edu/research/nesfp/
